Table 4.
Summary of basic studies of the acupuncture and moxibustion.
| References | Animal type | Sample size | Interventions | Main outcomes | Acupuncture points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [118] | Wistar rats | 60 | Normal group Embryo implantation dysfunction model group Acupuncture group |
1. Implantation rate: normal group—95% (19/20); model group—45% (9/20); acupuncture group—75% (15/20) 2. PR-positive staining in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the model group. |
Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6) Taichong (LV3) |
|
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| [124] | SD rats | Not clear | PCOS model group Clomiphene group Clomiphene + acupuncture group Control group |
1. Endometrial thickness: model group—30 ± 21 μm; clomiphene group—20 ± 27 μm; clomiphene and acupuncture group—59 ± 31 μm; control group—85 ± 23 μm 2. The expression of ER, PR, HOXA10, LIF mRNA, LIF, and integrin αvβ3 protein in endometrium of group C + A increased. |
Guanyuan (RN4), Zhongji (RN3) Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zigong (EX-CA1) |
|
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| [125] | Wistar rats | 40 | Normal group (N) Embryo implantation dysfunction model group (M) Acupuncture group (A) Control group (C) |
1. Pregnancy rate: N group—100% (10/10); M group—40% (4/10); A group—70% (7/10); C group—40% (4/10) 2. The expression level of VEGF mRNA in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the model group and the control group. |
Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6) |
|
| |||||
| [128] | C57BL6 mice | 50 | Blank control group Superovulation model group Erbuzhuyu decoction (EBZYD) group Acupuncture group EBZYD + acupuncture group |
1. The endometrial thickness significantly increased in the EBZYD, acupuncture, and EBZYD combined with the acupuncture group compared with the model group. 2. The expression levels of HOXA10 and VEGF significantly increased in the EBZYD + acupuncture group compared with the EBZYD and acupuncture group. |
Guanyuan (RN4), Sanyinjiao (SP6) Shenshu (BL23) |
|
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| [129] | SD rats | 40 | Control group Thin endometrium model group BMSC group BMSC + EA group |
The amount of ER and PR in the BMSC group and the combined group was significantly higher than that in the model group. | Guanyuan (RN4), Zigong (EX-CA1) Sanyinjiao (SP6) |
|
| |||||
| [130] | SD rats | 70 | Normal group (G) PCOS model group (M) Clomiphene citrate group (CC) Clomiphene citrate + PVG group (CC + PGV) Clomiphene + EA group (CC + A) Clomiphene + Bushen Huoxue recipe group (CC + M) clomiphene citrate + acupuncture + medicine group (CC + M + A) |
1. Endometrial thickness: G—92 ± 25 μm; M—32 ± 20 μm; CC—22 ± 16 μm; CC + PGV—33 ± 19 μm; C + M—32 ± 20 μm; CC + A—52 ± 23 μm; CC + M + A—89 ± 27 μm 2. Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression of PR and HOXA10 in each group was higher in CC + A, CC + M, CC + M + A, and CC + PVG. |
Guanyuan (RN4) Sanyinjiao (SP6) Zigong (EX-CA1) |
|
| |||||
| [131] | Adult Sprague Dawley rats | 60 | Control group Thin endometrium model group EA group |
1. Pregnancy rate: control group—100% (20/20); thin endometrium model group—20% (4/20); EA group—100% (20/20) 2. A significantly thicker endometrial lining was identified in the EA group than in the model group. 3. The protein and mRNA expression of HBEGF, Itgav, and Itgβ3 was significantly upregulated in the EA group relative to that in the model group |
Sanyinjiao (SP6) Zigong (EX-CA1) Guanyuan (RN4) |
|
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| [132] | SD rats | 80 | Normal treatment group Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) model treatment group (Model) Low-frequency EA group (LF-EA) High-frequency EA treatment group (HF-EA) |
1. The results showed that the thickness of endometrium in the LF-EA group and the HF-EA group was significantly higher than that in the model group. 2. The expressions of LIF and P-STAT3 in the LF-EA or HF-EA group were evidently higher than those in the model treatment group. |
Guanyuan (RN4) Zusanli (ST36) |
|
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| [133] | Kunming mice | 60 | Natural cycle group (NC) COH group EA group |
After EA treatment, the expression of IGF-1 protein and its mRNA protein in mouse endometrium increased. | Guanyuan (RN4) Zhongji (RN3) Sanyinjiao (SP6) |
|
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| [134] | SD rats | 40 | Normal group Endometrial model group Estrogen group Wheat grain moxibustion group |
1. Endometrial thickness: normal group > wheat grain moxibustion group > estrogen group > endometrial model group 2. Grain moxibustion can improve endometrial receptivity by upregulating the expression of keratin, vimentin, and VEGF in rats' endometrium, and improving the levels of endometrial receptivity-related factors such as HOXA10 and LIF. |
Shenshu (BL23) Guanyuan (RN4) |